The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC)

New policing governance arrangements came into place in London on 16 January 2012. One of the main intentions of these changes is to improve police accountability by replacing police authorities in England and Wales with elected individuals. This briefing sets out the changes that have been made in London particularly in relation to establishing the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and discusses some of the implications for London’s boroughs.

Overview

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act received Royal Assent on 15 September 2011. The most significant aspect of this legislation, for London, is the replacement of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) with Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC). The MOPC will be the key body for the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

The Mayor of London will be the head of the MOPC and as such will be answerable for police performance in the capital. The full roles and responsibilities of the MOPC, Police and Crime Commissioners (“PCCs”), Chief Constables, Police and Crime Panels and the London Assembly Police and Crime Panel are all set out in The Policing Protocol Order 2011. The scrutiny of the MOPC will be undertaken by a new Police and Crime Committee, which is a committee of the London Assembly.

Outside London there will be direct elections in November 2012 for Police and Crime Commissioners, with scrutiny provided by police and crime panels comprised of local councillors (one per relevant authority), magistrates and other independent members.

Analysis

The role of the Mayor as Police and Crime Commissioner for London and main functions of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime

A key aim of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 is to strengthen police accountability. In London, the main changes to policing governance are the abolition of the MPA and the establishment of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, led by the Mayor in his capacity as Police and Crime Commissioner. It is the Mayor who will be accountable to the public for policing performance in London. In practice however, we would expect that the statutory Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime will carry out many of the statutory functions which include those carried out by the MPA and some of the GLA community safety team. The MOPC will set the strategic direction of the MPS through the Police and Crime Plan (PCP), which is required to have regard to the guidelines set by the Home Secretary. Operational issues and day-to-day policing will still very much be the responsibility of the MPS itself under the direction of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe. The MOPC will, however, monitor the performance of the MPS and will have the power to hold the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to account for the performance of officers and staff. The MOPC will also be responsible for receiving and allocating funding in relation to policing and crime in London. The draft MPS budget for 2012/13 totals just over £3.5 billion.

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime will have a broad remit and will include crime prevention and reduction as well as policing. The responsibilities of the new body will include:

- delivery of community safety including the distribution of the Community Safety Fund, and the ability to bring together community safety partnerships
- the ability to make crime and disorder reduction grants to any organisation or individual within the Metropolitan Police force area
- setting the policing precept in councils tax bills
- a wider responsibility for the enhancement of criminal justice in London
- a requirement to consult with victims of crime when setting policing priorities.

The indicated priorities for the MOPC this year are:

- strengthening the Met’s response to serious youth violence, including knife crime
- policing and crime reduction including the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, counter terrorism and stop and search
- targeting robbery, burglary and drug dealing across London
- tackling gangs
- reducing re-offending.

**Scrutiny of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime**

Scrutiny of the MOPC will be through the Police and Crime Committee, which is a sub-committee on the London Assembly. The Police and Crime Committee will:

- review the Police and Crime Plan for London
- be able to investigate issues relating to crime and policing in London and make recommendations for improvements
- be able to investigate actions or decisions of the MOPC, or the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- have the power of veto over the MOPC budget through a two thirds majority
- be responsible for handling any complaints against the Mayor (or designated deputy) and will have the power to require them to resign as Police and Crime Commissioner should they consider it to be the most appropriate course of action.

**The London Crime Reduction Board**

The London Crime Reduction Board was set up by the Mayor and London Councils in September 2010 to co-ordinate strategic working at a regional level on crime reduction, crime prevention and community safety. The board is comprised of the Mayor and his deputy, three local authority leaders¹ and senior police officers. The board is supported by a high level multi-agency officer group that delivers the priorities of the Board. The work of the LCRB includes:

- providing leadership to improve co-ordination and strategic working on policing and crime reduction in London
- encouraging the development of tailored community safety and crime reduction initiatives

¹ The three local authority leaders nominated by London Councils are from Hackney, Haringey and Westminster that fit the needs of localities • lobbying to secure and maintain funding for crime reduction in London • strengthening the working relationship between local authorities and the police on crime reduction.

The LCRB is the formal link between London’s boroughs, MOPC and other crime reduction and criminal justice agencies. Following a push from London Councils, the terms of reference for the board are currently being revised to sharpen its role in ensuring London local government input on key safety and policing issues. Current priorities include tackling violence against women, anti-violence and reducing re-offending.

MOPC and Community Safety Partnerships The relationship between MOPC and Community Safety Partnerships (CSP) has changed from the setup with the MPA. Unlike the MPA, the MOPC will not be a part of the CSP. However, the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 places a mutual duty on MOPC and CSPs to co-operate in their efforts to reduce crime, including a duty to consult on each others policing and crime plans and priorities.

In addition to these changes, the role of funding Community Safety Partnerships has been transferred from the Home Office to the Mayor, starting with the Community Safety Fund for 2011/12 and 2012/13. It unclear at this stage what funding will be available for CSPs from 2013/14 and this will be a focus of discussion with the boroughs and the Mayor.

Commentary London boroughs and councillors, through their local knowledge, connections and work, play a key role in connecting communities with local policing. The changes to the landscape of policing governance may have a significant impact on these relationships. For example, the shift to a high profile model for policing oversight, through the establishment of MOPC; could lead to an increasing focus at a London-wide level on the most conspicuous public safety concerns, at the expense of the priorities of local communities.

It is important that London boroughs have a strategic input to the new governance arrangements, with a view to maintaining some influence over local policing. A revamped London Crime Reduction Board, offers a means of positive engagement on strategic matters between senior members, MOPC and the MPS, though there will be other routes for borough engagement both locally and regionally. It is also important that LCRB focus on big safety, policing and criminal justice issues and not be overly constrained by current LCRB themes.

Author: Rangan Momen, principal policy and project officer (T: 020 7934 9816) Click here to send a comment or query to the author

Links: The Policing Protocol Order 2011

This member briefing has been circulated to: Portfolio holders and those members who requested policy briefings in the following categories: Crime and public protection